Syringa plant named ‘Annys200809’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Syringa hybrida plant named ‘Annys200809’ that is characterized by its compact plant habit and dwarf plant size, its flower panicles that are large in size, its sweet flower fragrance, its flowers that are red-purple with white petal lobes opening from red-purple flower buds, and its free flowering habit.

Botanical classification: Syringa hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Annys200809’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to a European plant breeders' rights application filed on Oct. 16, 2013, application No. 2013/2647. There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one of ordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed plant breeder's rights documents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Syringa of hybrid origin that is botanically known as Syringa ‘Annys200809’ and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Annys200809’. ‘Annys200809’ is a new cultivar of lilac grown for use as an ornamental landscape plant.

‘Annys200809’ originated as a seedling that arose from seed planted from open pollination of Syringa ‘Pink Perfume’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,252) in Zundert, The Netherlands in July of 2008. The male parent is therefore unknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by grafting in 2010 under the direction of the Inventor in Zundert, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by grafting has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Annys200809’ as a unique cultivar of Syringa.

-   -   1. ‘Annys200809’ exhibits a compact plant habit and dwarf plant         size.     -   2. ‘Annys200809’ exhibits flower panicles that are large in         size.     -   3. ‘Annys200809’ exhibits a sweet flower fragrance.     -   4. ‘Annys200809’ exhibits repeat blooming habit; blooming in         summer with a second flush in autumn.     -   5. ‘Annys200809’ exhibits flowers that are red-purple with white         petal lobes opening from red-purple flower buds.     -   6. ‘Annys200809’ exhibits free flowering habit.

The female parent of ‘Annys200809’, ‘Pink Perfume’, is similar to ‘Annys200809’ in having a compact plant habit and fragrant flowers. ‘Pink Perfume’ differs from ‘Annys200809’ in having fewer leaflets per branch, flower buds that are grey-purple in color and flower petals that are red-purple in color (lack white lobes) when fully open. The new Syringa can also be compared to Syringa cultivar ‘Penda’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,575) and Syringa meyeri ‘Palabin’ (not patented). ‘Penda’ is similar to ‘Annys200809’ in having a compact plant habit, fragrant flowers, and a re-blooming habit. ‘Penda’ differs from ‘Annys200809’ in having leaves that are smaller in size and in having a more spreading plant habit. ‘Palabin’ is similar to ‘Annys200809’ in having a compact and dense plant habit. ‘Palabin’ differs in having flowers that are pale pink in color and in having a broader plant habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Syringa. The photographs were taken of a 7-month-old plant as grown outdoors in 3-Liter containers in Zundert, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of a plant of ‘Annys200809’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the inflorescences of ‘Annys200809’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a leaf of ‘Annys200809’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Syringa.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of 7-month-old plants as grown outdoors in 3-liter containers in Zundert, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—August and May in The Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Broad upright and ovate.         -   Height and spread.—An average of 56.5 cm in height and 26 cm             in width, obtains an average of 1.25 m in height and 60 cm             in width in the landscape.         -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zones 2 to 9.         -   Diseases.—No resistance or susceptibility to diseases has             been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and dense, a blend of 165A and             161D in color.         -   Propagation.—Grafting onto rootstock.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Root development.—Cuttings from grafting taken in summer             root in 4 to 6 weeks, are hardened in winter and plugs are             potted into P9 containers in spring. -   Branch description:     -   -   Branch shape.—Rounded.         -   Branch color.—Young; 148A, flushed with 183A, older             branches; 199B.         -   Branch size.—Lateral branches; an average of 37.2 cm in             length and 3 mm in diameter.         -   Branch surface.—Older stems; smooth, young stems covered             with soft pubescent hairs an average of 0.5 mm in length and             N155A in color.         -   Branch quantity.—Average of 4 main branches, average of 5             lateral branches per main branch, average of 20 lateral             branches per plant.         -   Internode length.—Up to 4.1 cm.         -   Branching.—Freely branching, upright. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate to broad ovate.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Obtuse to short attenuate.         -   Leaf apex.—Bluntly acute.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface color; 144A, lower             surface color; 144B.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire and slightly undulate, densely covered             with pubescent hairs 0.5 mm in length and color ranges             between matching margin color and N155A.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces are slightly leathery, upper             surface is glabrous and lower surface is sparsely pubescent             with short hairs an average of 0.5 mm in length and N155A in             color.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 5.3 cm in length and 3.9 cm in             width.         -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 18 leaves (9 pairs) per lateral             branch.         -   Leaf color.—Young leaf upper surface 146A, flushed with 183A             especially at the margins, young lower surface; 146B to             148B, mature upper surface; color between N137A and 147A,             mature lower surface; 147B.         -   Petioles.—An average of 1.1 cm in length and 1.5 mm in             width, both surfaces glabrous and slightly glossy, 144A and             flushed with 183A in color. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Thyrse compound panicles on terminals             and laterals, narrow ovate in overall shape.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 11 cm (including peduncle)             in height and 5.3 cm in width.         -   Flower buds.—Spathulate in shape, an average of 1.1 cm in             length and 2.5 mm diameter, color; 72B, tube 77B.         -   Flower fragrance.—Sweet, strong.         -   Persistence of flowers.—Self-cleaning.         -   Lastingness of flowers.—Individual panicles last an average             of 10 days.         -   Flower quantity.—An average of 135 flowers per lateral stem,             average of 7,500 flowers and buds per plant.         -   Flower type.—Salverform, single.         -   Flower aspect.—Upright and slightly outward.         -   Flower size.—An average of 7.5 mm in diameter, 1.1 cm in             depth.         -   Petals.—4, salverform, corolla 4-lobed, an average of 1.3 cm             in length and 2 mm in width, narrow oblanceolate in shape,             acute apex, margins of corolla lobes entire with undulation             absent and moderately involute, aspect of corolla lobes is             horizontal to semi-erect, lower 77% fused into tube, upper             and lower surfaces smooth and matte, color; when opening and             fully open upper surface 75A to 75B, free lobes NN155C, tube             75A, when opening and fully open lower surface 75A.         -   Sepals.—4, rotate, fused into a campanulate shape, entire             margins, broad acute apex, 1.5 mm in length, 1 mm in width,             color; immature and mature upper and lower surface 183D and             tinged with 153C.         -   Calyx.—Rotate, average of 1.5 mm in length and diameter.         -   Peduncles.—Primary; an average of 10 cm in length and 1.5 mm             in width, held upright, axillary; held at an average angle             of 30°, an average of 1.8 cm in length and 1.3 mm in width,             primary and axillary; moderate strength, 200A to 200B in             color, surface is matte to slightly glossy, sparsely covered             with pubescent hairs an average of 0.5 mm in length and a             color between N155A and surface color.         -   Pedicels.—None, sessile to peduncle. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistils.—1, average of 2.5 mm in length, stigma; club             shaped, 155A in color, style; average of 2 mm in length,             155A in color, ovary; 146A in color.         -   Stamens.—2, anthers; average of 2 mm in length, dorsifixed,             sessile (no filament) and implanted into inner side of tube,             N77C in color, filaments; none, pollen; moderate in quantity             and 4B in color.         -   Fruit and seed.—No seed or fruit produced to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Syringa plant named ‘Annys200809’ as herein illustrated and described. 